Obit: Arthur Lee of Love (Aug 2006)

Subject: Obit: Arthur Lee
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 03:06 PM

Amazed that no-one has started a thread yet..

Arthur Lee died yesterday. Click here for more details.

Have loved 'Forever Changes' since I first heard it about 20 years ago. Was lucky enough to see Arthur in a small English Club with Baby Lemonade when he started touring again a few years back. One of the best gigs I've ever been to.

Rest in peace Arthur, you wrote some fabulous songs, and 'Forever Changes' remains one of the greatest records ever made.

Subject: Obit: Arthur Lee of Love
From: fat B****rd
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 03:08 PM

I see on bbc uk ceefax that Arthur Lee just died. I loved Alone Again Or, Stephanie, 7 + 7 Is and a load of his early songs. RIP Mr. Lee.Threads combined.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur Lee of Love (Aug 2006)
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 03:30 PM

Thanks for combining the threads, Joe.

I don't think America ever really 'got him' which might explain why my thread was the first?

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur Lee of Love (Aug 2006)
From: Scoville
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 03:54 PM

another article

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur Lee of Love (Aug 2006)
From: Matt_R
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 04:11 PM

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I love Love.

:-(

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur Lee of Love (Aug 2006)
From: Matt_R
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 05:14 PM

The video for Love's "Your Mind and We Belong Together"

HERE

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur Lee of Love (Aug 2006)
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 06:36 PM

Shit. I was in a pub last night and the singer with guitar, who must have been 20 years too young to remember it, did "Alone again or" and people were looking at this old dude (me) who knew the words and the tune.

I still do "Signed DC".

Love escaped being massive because Elektra signed the Doors next, and the Doors soaked up the whole of Elektra's PR budget.

The sleeve said "Love play Mosrite guitars"

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur Lee of Love (Aug 2006)
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 04:33 PM

Only four people responde. Guess that says a lot.

Music lovers are missing a trick, mind...

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur Lee of Love (Aug 2006)
From: GUEST,Jeff
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 07:13 PM

My older brother had a copy of the 1st Love album and wore it out. I remember being shocked at the sound of the band and the urgency of Arthur Lee's singing. '7 and 7 is', 'My Little Red Book' and 'Hey Joe' are songs that stand out in my memory. He went to see them at a little club in Cleveland, Oh called the 'La Cave' and talked of nothing else for days. Being 9 or 10 at the time I wasn't allowed to go. Recall thinking when The Jimi Hendrix Experience's album came out(again my older bro wore it out)how much the 'look' of the album sleeve reminded me of The Love.

Guest/Ed is right about America not 'getting him' in general. There was a DJ on WMMS/FM in Cleveland named Billy Bass who used to play them quite a bit along with other 'progressive rock' not played on the local AM stations. Cream, Traffic, Spooky Tooth, etc.

RIP Mr. Lee

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur Lee of Love (Aug 2006)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 08:58 PM

Bought the record sound unheard based on the favorable opinions like those of the people above. Have had it for several years now and still don't get it. Guess that's why Love was never the big hit here in the USA: too many people like me who didn't get it. Moral of the story:

No matter how deserving the praise, trust your own ears - not someone else's.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur Lee of Love (Aug 2006)
From: GUEST,Fogie
Date: 08 Aug 06 - 05:46 AM

Sorry to be nosey ,but does anyone know why he died?

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur Lee of Love (Aug 2006)
From: woodsie
Date: 08 Aug 06 - 07:21 AM

Very sad to hear Arthur has gone. Those bastards stole 6 years of his life by locking him in prison for NOTHING.. He was so good the last time I saw him ar Canterbury Fayre 2003. Goodbye Athur and thanks for all the great music. You mudcats should listen to Four Sail, Out Here and Vindicator, you will see that there was more to him than forever changes.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur Lee of Love (Aug 2006)
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Aug 06 - 07:23 AM

Er, Woodsie, I think the charge was murder....

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur Lee of Love (Aug 2006)
From: woodsie
Date: 08 Aug 06 - 08:22 AM

Murder? Where did that come from!

Here is what happened:

... plans to reform Love and tour were thwarted by Lee's legal problems. In 1996 Lee was sentenced to 12 years in prison for illegal possession of a firearm, which he had used to threaten a neighbor, though he did not fire any shots. Since Lee had a few prior run-ins with the law for drugs and assault, he was given a harsher sentence than that type of conviction usually brings. Lee served five years of his 12-year sentence, refusing both visitors and journalists who tried to contact him in jail. While Lee was in prison, two members of Love passed away, making a real reunion impossible ...

I've just pulled that off the internet. I did read somewhere that an australian guy who was staying with arthur actually admitted that it was him that had had jokingly pointed an unloaded 45 at a neighbour across the block from Arthur's apartment. The police ignored this and arrested Arthur as it was his apartment therefore he was responsible.

Definitely not murder, more like the American establishment hated him for what he was - a peaceful, stoned out BLACK hippie!!!

Now you know Richard!

We will have to do some more Arther Lee & Syd Barrett at Knockholt in September!

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur Lee of Love (Aug 2006)
From: Wesley S
Date: 08 Aug 06 - 11:49 AM

Fogie - I'm pretty sure it was lukemia that did him in.

NPR did a nice story about him last night.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur Lee of Love (Aug 2006)
From: Matt_R
Date: 08 Aug 06 - 12:37 PM

I had to break out "Forever Changes" yesterday. "Da Capo" today I think.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur Lee of Love (Aug 2006)
From: GUEST,Dr Price
Date: 08 Aug 06 - 12:45 PM

Oh dear. I've still got my Love album - I shall listen again reverently as Arthur sings The Castle, Stephanie Knows Who, Magic Skies... Rest easy, Arthur. It was your inspiration that made me become a musician.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur Lee of Love (Aug 2006)
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 03:43 AM

Thanx for some of the best music to come out of the 60s

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur Lee of Love (Aug 2006)
From: Kenneth Ingham
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 11:58 AM

Just heard about this last night. Arthur was one of my inspirations. The album "Vindicator" kept me going in my darkest hour. Arthur we loved you man!